William w



(Ne Model.)

W. W. RUNYON. BILL FILE.

Patented June 9,1891.

" Snow Wot 7%; Zfi M 1 WM abtozmug Unite STATES ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM w. RUNYON, or CORNING, IOWA.

BILL- FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,664, dated June 9, 1891.

Serial No. 369,010. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM W. RUNYON, acitizen of the United States of Ameriea,residing at Corning, in the county of Adams and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Bill-File, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in bill-files; and the object is to provide a reliable, durable, and simple self-adjusting file for holding and preserving papers, letters, and other memoranda which it is necessary or desirable to file away for future reference or use.

My invention consists in the new and improved complete bill-file, as will be hereinafter described, and as the same is particularly pointed out and distinctly specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, my invention is clearly illustrated, and reference being thereto had-- Figure l is a perspective view showing my invention applied to a file of papers, letters, or other folded papers. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bill-file empty and in retracted condition. Fig. 3 is a view showing the file opened for the insertion, examination, or removal of'one or more papers.

A A designate the top and bottom boards or plates of the bill-filo. These may be made of thin pieces of wooden stuff or of strong paper boards of such superficial size as to serve the purposes for which they are intended. They are made equal in width and length and arranged to rest with their ends and sides in alignment. Near each end of the under board of the bill-file is secured a substantial elastic band 1 2, the upper portions being adapted to have th e upper board placed within them and by their elasticity hold it clamped to the contents of the bill-file. These bands may be secured to the under surface of the under board by cementation, or by a small paper-staple, or anymeans applicable to hold an elastic band to a rigid body.

To one end of what naturally constitutes the under member or board of the bill-file is secured one end of a flexible piece of stuff 3, constituting the end covering for the bill-file, and which may be of light leather, strong paper, or smooth surfaced. canvas, or any fiexible substance presenting a surface suitable to have characters written or printed thereon indicative of the contents of the billfile. This flexible covering for the end of the bill-file is of such length as to reach over the space occupied by the filled or partially filled tile when the boards are separated, and to lap well over the upper board, substantially as shown in the drawings. The free end of the flexible end covering may be tapered or rounded off, substantially as shown. To the middle of the free end is secured one end of an elastic strap 4., preferably composed of woven elastic stuff, because that is more durable and less liable to become nonelastic. The inner end of the elastic strap a is let through a slot 5 in the upper board, and has its end secured to the under surface of the board.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the parts or elements specified may be used as a complete bill-file for purposes of holding papers clamped together; but, in order that the papers or contents of the file may be kept clean on their edges, I connect the boards at their sides by extensible sidepieees 7 made of paper, the extensibilitybeing obtained by making small bellows folds or creases S in the side pieces, so that they may naturally return to their folded condition after being extended and occupy but little space.

It will now be observed that I have described a bill-file readily adjustable to any quantity of papers to the extent of its in tended capacity, and that as the file increases in thickness the flexible end piece will adjust itself to the file through the instru mentality of the elastic strap, which secures its free or upper end in connection to the board, while at the same time the extensible side pieces adapt themselves to the distance between the boards and at all times keep the edges of the contents unexposed. Vhen it is desired to insert a paper or remove one, the bands 1 and 2 may be snapped free from the file, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and the file set on its covered end, the natural tendency of the file in this position being to spread open at the free end, which. tendency is aided by the action of the elastic band that. secures the flexible end covering to the board. In this position the paper may be inserted; or romoved or the examination of their indorsement made readily. The file is closed and the papers reclainped by simply replacing the 5 clan1ping-band over the boards again and I0 I claim, and ask Letters Patent for, is

1. In a bill-file, the upper and lower boards, one of which has elastic clampingbands secured thereto adapted to be placed over and clamp the inclosed boards in the direction of I 5 each other, a flexible end covering secured to one of the boards and arranged to reach over the end and on the face of the other board, and an elastic strap secured to the free end of the flexible end covering and to the face of 20 the board, all substantially as described.

2. In a bill-file, the upper and lower boards, elastic clamping-bands secured to one of the boards and adapted to inclose and clamp about the other board, a flexible end covering having one end secured to one of the boards and arranged to reach over the end of the other board, an elastic strap having one end secured to the free end of the end covering, and the other end to the board, and extensible side pieces provided with bellows-folds to secure the boards together and shield the sides of the contents of the file, all substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two attesting wit- 5 nesses.

WILLIAM W. RUNYON. Attest:

E. F. MINER, G. O. GRAY. 

